The presence of women in top executive positions within Nigeria’s corporate sector has steadily grown, with more female leaders now steering some of the country’s biggest companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX).
This list spotlights women leading some of the most asset-rich corporations in Nigeria, spanning banking, financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, and insurance.
Collectively, these female CEOs are responsible for managing assets valued at over N81 trillion.
Many of these female CEOs bring decades of experience across local and international institutions, combining strategic vision with proven track records in finance, operations, and innovation. Their rise to the helm of these companies signals a shift toward inclusivity and merit-based leadership in corporate governance.
Beyond their professional achievements, these executives also serve as role models for the next generation of women in business. Their positions reflect progress in gender representation at the highest levels of corporate Nigeria, while also highlighting the work that remains to achieve greater equity.
Here is a list of the top 15 female CEOs of companies listed on NGX by their total asset
Mrs. Risikatu Ladi Ahmed is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ASO Savings and Loans Plc, a role she assumed on May 1, 2021.
Her appointment made history as she became the first female CEO of the bank, joining the ranks of Nigerian women breaking barriers in the banking industry. Under her leadership, ASO Savings and Loans Plc recorded N1.34 billion in revenue and maintained a total asset base of N23.40 billion in 2024.
- The company also had a market capitalization of N10 billion in 2024.
- She is a Chartered Director from INSEAD Business School, Fontainebleau, and holds a Certificate in Corporate Governance from the same institution.
- Her career at ASO Savings began in 2015 when she was appointed Executive Director, overseeing the Corporate Services Directorate, Human Capital, Employee Relations and Supply Chain, Operations and Technology, Real Estate Inventory Management, and Institutional Banking. Before joining ASO, she spent 16 years at Diamond Bank Plc (1999–2015), where she rose through several managerial and leadership roles, earning multiple commendations for outstanding performance.
She began her banking career at Continental Merchant Bank Plc during her National Youth Service, later working at Savannah Bank Plc from 1993 to 1999.
She earned a Law degree (LL.B) from the University of Maiduguri and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990. She also holds a Master’s degree in Law (LL.M) from the University of Jos, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, and has attended top executive programs, including the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, and leadership courses at Harvard Business School, Lagos Business School, and INSEAD Business School.
